The elusive Tasmanian Devil. We were all looking pretty hard to find one at the Australia Zoo but it seemed that they were either out of their enclosures or sleeping. However, Lone Pine has two and they were out, about, and having fun.
The Tasmanian Devil is not quite like the one from Looney Tunes. He's got similar markings but doesn't exactly spin in circles.
This video will tell you all about their diets and their behaviors. I can't remember if the movie makes this clear, but the Tasmanian Devil eats EVERYTHING when it comes to it's prey--that's bones, fur, meat and all!
Tasmanian Devils are decreasing in numbers throughout Tasmania (the only place in the world where they live) largely because of hunting before becoming a protected species in 1941 and since then because of a cancerous tumor that attaches itself to their face. Because Devils have very little genetic variety in their young, scientists are trying really hard to weed out the infected ones and monitor the spread of the disease. Several colonies of healthy Devils are being cultivated in order to reintroduce them should extinction be inevitable for those in the wild.
Tasmanian Devils are also marsupials (a surprise to me) and their pouch, like the wombat, is backwards as well. Not exactly sure why... When scared, the Devil emits a powerful odor which is supposed to be like a skunk's. The Tasmanian Devil also has the most powerful jaw of all... Well, Wikipedia says mammals but since he's not one... I'll just say of land animals. :)
I'm pretty sure I'll never see one of these in the wild but none the less, I'm fascinated. What a cool looking animals! It's like a mouse and a cat in one!
The Tasmanian Devil is not quite like the one from Looney Tunes. He's got similar markings but doesn't exactly spin in circles.
This video will tell you all about their diets and their behaviors. I can't remember if the movie makes this clear, but the Tasmanian Devil eats EVERYTHING when it comes to it's prey--that's bones, fur, meat and all!
Tasmanian Devils are decreasing in numbers throughout Tasmania (the only place in the world where they live) largely because of hunting before becoming a protected species in 1941 and since then because of a cancerous tumor that attaches itself to their face. Because Devils have very little genetic variety in their young, scientists are trying really hard to weed out the infected ones and monitor the spread of the disease. Several colonies of healthy Devils are being cultivated in order to reintroduce them should extinction be inevitable for those in the wild.
Tasmanian Devils are also marsupials (a surprise to me) and their pouch, like the wombat, is backwards as well. Not exactly sure why... When scared, the Devil emits a powerful odor which is supposed to be like a skunk's. The Tasmanian Devil also has the most powerful jaw of all... Well, Wikipedia says mammals but since he's not one... I'll just say of land animals. :)
I'm pretty sure I'll never see one of these in the wild but none the less, I'm fascinated. What a cool looking animals! It's like a mouse and a cat in one!
1 comments:
As cute as he is, I remember Buggs Bunny cartoons and I would suggest you don't play with him. ;) haha
Post a Comment